Pneumatic grain-elevator.



- No. '717,926. I PATENTBD JAN. 6, 1903.

J. c. RIETH. PNEUMATIC GRAIN ELEVATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 5, 1902. no'monmh @g l f? JULIUS (l. RIETH, OF

SANDWICH, ILLINoIs.

PNEUMATIC GRAIN-ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,926, dated January 6, 1903).

Application filed August 5,1902.

. clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic elevators, and it relates particularly to means for conveying grain or other light substances to points of shipment or storage.

The object of the invention is to provide means for elevating or conveying grain or other light substances from one place to another in such manner that the current of air by which the grain or other substances is con veyed shall not be interrupted or its force weakened by reason of escape or deflection in its passage through the device.

With this object in View the invention consists of a device for conveying or elevating grain or other light substances which consists, essentially, of means for inducing a current of air, a passage into which grain or other sub stances are deposited, and a conduit for conveying the substance from the device, the passage being at all times closed to prevent escape of air therefrom, the parts of the device being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinafter described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

One form of embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pneumatic elevator constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, parts of the frame being broken away to show the interior disposition of the parts. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the receivinghopper and adjacent parts, the end being removed to show the interior of the lower portion; and Fig. 4 is a detail View showing the means of connecting the shafts.

Serial No. 118,478. (No model.)

In the drawings, '1 represents the hopper of the device, into which grain or the like to be elevated or con veyed is deposited previous to being moved to the desired place of deposit by the current of air employed for the pur pose. In the lower portion of the hopper is a transverse passage or way 2, the same being preferably semicircular in cross-section and forming the lower portion of the passage into which the grain or thelike is deposited from the hopper and in which it receives the impact of the current of air by which the substance is conveyed to a pipe or conduit 3, by which it'is conducted to a place of deposit. The upper portion of the passage or way 2 is formed in turn by the openings between the wings 4 of the revolving cylinder 5 as the wings are brought successively to register with the upper edges of the portion of the passage formed in the bottom of the hopper 1. The cylinder 5 and wings 4, which extend entirely across the hopper, form the bottom of that portion of the hopper in which the grain or the like to be elevated or conveyed is deposited when entering the device, and thedistance between the outer edges of adjacent wings corresponds to the width of the passage 2'. A circular receptacle 6 for the winged cylinder is provided in the lower end of the hopper, and the outer ends of the wings fit closely against the inner face of the receptacle in order to prevent the escape of air forced through the passage 2 into the hopper 1.

A current of air by which the grain or the like is conveyed is generated by the fans 7 7, located in the base 8 of the device. These fans, which rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, extend entirely across the base and are mounted in suitable bearings in the respective ends thereof. Each shaft 9 of the fans is provided with a gear 10, and as the gears intermesh the fans are caused to revolve in opposite directions. The base 8 is air-tight except at the bottom, where it is open for its entire width, allowing theinlet of air to the fans 7. Communication between the fan-chamber or base 8 and the passage 2 is established by the pipe 11, extending from one to the other and located on the outside of the casing of the device.

Movement may be imparted to the various moving parts in any suitable wayas, for instance, a main driving-belt 12 is passed over a band-wheel 13 on the end of one of the shafts 9, and motion given this shaft is transmitted through the gears to the other shaft 9, and the cylinder 5 is driven by a belt passing over a band-Wheel 14 on the second shaft 9 and over a similar band-wheel 15 on the shaft of the cylinder 5.

The device thus described may be placed in any desired position for use. For instance it may be attached by means of the brackets 16 to a thresher, corn-sheller, or any similar machine where the grain or the like is discharged, also the loading of cars, boats, vessels, and the handling of certain grades of coal.

In the operation of the elevator or conveyer motion is imparted to the parts through the main driving-belt 12, and in this way air is caused to be drawn in at the bottom of the fan-chamber and forced through the pipe 11 to the passage 2. When a strong current of air is established through the passage 2 a stream of grain or the like is allowed to flow into the hopper 1. The space between each pair of arms 4 will become filled as the arms assume a position to form the lower part "of the hopper, and as the arms descend the charge is carried downward until the arms register with the sides of the passage 2, when it will be conveyed by the current of air, established as described, through the pipe 3 to the desired place of deposit.

From the foregoing it will be clear that a device constructed in accordance with my invention is effective and economical in operation because of the fact that no interruption, impeding, or escaping of the current of air by which the substance is conveyed is possible in any part of the passage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the kind described comprising a winged revoluble cylinder, a passage arranged adjacent to and parallel with the cylinder, the spaces between the outer edges of the Wings corresponding to the width of the passage, and the Wings being adapted to register with the sides of the passage to form a closed conduit, substantially as described.

2. A device of the kind described comprisingahopperhaving the bottom thereof formed by a revoluble winged cylinder, a passage arranged adjacent and parallel with the cylinder, the spaces between the outer edges of the wings corresponding to the width of the passage, the wings being adapted to register with the sides of the passage, and means for forcing a current of air through the conduit so formed, substantially as described.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a hopper, a revoluble winged cylinder forming the bottom of the hopper, a passage adjacent to the cylinder of a width corresponding to the spaces between the outer edges of the wings, means for inducing a current of air, and a pipe for conducting the air to the conduit formed by the wings of the cylinder and the passage, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JULIUS G. RIETH.

Witnesses:

JOHN V. KEHL, JOHN W. HoTTE. 

